Temple Beth Elohim Wellesley, MA www.tbeyouth.org

1. Never Again-
Looking Back & Moving Forward:
Holocaust
Poems & Drawings
Temple Beth Elohim
7th Grade
5773
2012-2013

2. Contributors:
Jade Bacherman Owen Gavis Jacob Levine Anna Singer
Gregory Baron Teddy Gelb Samantha Levy Noah Skelton
Alex Barron Ben Gilarde Tommy Lieberman Tara Snapper
Emily Belt Lidia Goldberg Emily London Sydney Soloway
Noam Benjamin Rachel Gordon Charles Lowell Norman Jack Spector
Margot Berman Hallie Gordon Adrie Luster Tahlia Spiegel
Jared Bo Sarah Gotbetter Allie Maltzman Jared Stier
Hannah Bordenstein Lucas Grossman Jon Marcus Noah Tanzman
Olivia Brasher Ayla Rose Hadley Brooke Marks-Hackel Seth Turk
Chloe Braunstein Natalie Harder Sofia Mina Joshua Viktorov
Jack Briney Julia Herman Alec Mitrokostas Kendra Wagner
Jordan Briney Mitchell Hernandez Kaylie Moskovit Ethan Weinhaus
Jason Bussgang Mattea Horne Jessica Mulder Jake Wexelblatt
Nina Collins Adam Hurwitz Hannah Nesson Jacob Wolfson
Jordan Cyker Zoe Jackowitz Alexander Norman Danielle Yanoff
Noah Ente Julia Jesurum Tyler Norris Roxanne Zalkind
Ana-Natalia Epstein Julia Joseph Madeline Olton Ben Zimmerman
Noah Evantash Asa Kaplan Sylvan Pappalardo
Hailey Feinzig Morgan Karger Sydney Paul
Sophie Fennell Hannah Katzman Avery Phillips
Olivia Fennell Alexander Kinsella Josh Poresky
Jason Fischman Samantha Komack William Rosen
Jake Fischman Ilana Koppel Matthew Rosenblum
TK Fischman Andrew Kreiss Jillian Rothman
Julia Forman Ethan Krop Rachel Segel
Emma Frank Sophie Krop Kyle Shoulkin
Jessica Friedman Nate Lanza Evan Silver
Jonah Garnick Zachary Levin Danny Silverston
The 7th grade students of BM3T were fortunate to hear Holocaust survivor
Dr. Maurice (Reis) Vanderpol speak about his experiences hiding in Holland during
World War II. Dr. Vanderpol spoke at TBE on both a Tuesday and Wednesday evening
so all students and their parents could learn from his story.
TBE faculty, religious staff, and administrators are grateful that our 7th graders still have
the opportunity to hear Holocaust survivors recount their stories. This is the third year
that Dr. Maurice (Reis) Vanderpol, age 91, a retired psychiatrist living in Needham and
involved in Facing History and Ourselves, has spoken at TBE. For more than 30 years,
Brookline based Facing History and Ourselves has been dedicated to combating racism,
anti-Semitism, and prejudice, and nurtures democracy through educational programs
worldwide.
We thank Dr. Vanderpol for his time and insightful presentations and look forward to
learning from his experiences.

3. This innovative Holocaust Literary Project, entitled Never Again -_Looking Back
and Moving Forward, is a culmination of the Temple Beth Elohim BM3T Seventh
Grade Holocaust Curriculum. The students at TBE have worked hard this year to
understand the enormity of what happened to the Jewish people and other minority
groups during the time of the Holocaust. All the work in this book is original and comes
out of meaningful discussion and reflection by both students and teachers in the eight
Holocaust Classes at TBE, taught under the direction of teachers Anne Crystal, Roberta
Molliver, Dale Norman, Penni Rochwerger, Mara Rubinstein, Ben Harris, Hannah
Richman, Rachel Rothschild & Rafi Spitzer. Topics of note that were explored in class
included: not being a bystander, but rather an upstander; how does one deal with and
respond to issues of bullying, skape-goating, stereotyping, and racism; and how does one
ensure that what happened in the Holocaust never happens again.
The following quotation by Holocaust Survivor and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate,
Elie Wiesel, sums up the lessons of the TBE Holocaust curriculum. We ask readers to
please consider his words below as they read the poems and artistic expression printed in
this book.
“I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and
humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the
victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”
- Elie Wiesel
Special thanks go to TBE Limud and BM3T Director, Dr. Judy Avnery, who encouraged students to spend
time working, for the second year, on this in-class creative and thought-provoking project. We also thank TBE
Administrative Assistant, Heather Pellegrini, who helped us assemble Never Again -_Looking Back and
Moving Forward. Most importantly, we thank and applaud our wonderful 7th grade students for all the work
and though they put into this project. It is our hope they will keep this book safe, read it regularly, and live by
its principles in the years to come.
Teachers: Anne Crystal, Roberta Molliver, Dale Norman, Penni Rochwerger, Mara Rubinstein
Assistant Teachers: Ben Harris, Hannah Richman, Rachel Rothschild, Rafi Spitzer

4. The Beginning
Page of Reflection
This is a page for you to express your thoughts about the Holocaust

36. Journey Of Pain
Page of Reflection
This is a page for you to express your thoughts about the Holocaust

44. By: Julia Herman

84. Toward Hope
Page of Reflection
This is a page for you to express your thoughts about the Holocaust

105. Keeping the Hunger Away

108. This creative and original project, Never Again – Looking Back
& Moving Forward: Holocaust Poems and Drawings – is a
testament to our 7th grade BM3T students who intensively studied
the Holocaust this year. This is the second year our 7th graders
have worked on producing this booklet. Looking at their poetry
and drawings, it is apparent that our students have connected to
this huge and disturbing topic. They are able to meaningfully draw
upon the lessons of the past and then connect what they have
learned to the present and future. Yasher Koach to them and to
members of our faculty who have also contributed artwork and
poetry to this undertaking as well as a special thank you to Holo-
caust survivor, Dr. Maurice (Reis) Vanderpol, for his presentation
to our students and parents. We are indeed fortunate to be living at
a time when our students still have the opportunity to meet and
hear Holocaust survivors.
It is indeed gratifying for us, as educators at TBE, to see the
intensity and sincerity of our students and staff.
-Dr. Judy Avnery
TBE Limud and BM3T Director
Edited By: Dale Norman, BM3T Holocaust Teacher
April 2013
Nissan 5773